Most center-based daycares close for 8 to 12 paid holidays a year, and you usually still owe tuition for those days. So holiday weeks cost twice: your normal bill plus any backup care. The fix is a plan made early, since sitters and drop-in slots fill fast. Some care can count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit, per IRS Publication 503.
Most center-based daycares close for roughly 8 to 12 paid holidays a year, often including major federal holidays and a stretch around the winter holidays. Your enrollment agreement lists the exact closed days, so read it at the start of the year and mark them on your calendar.
Family child care homes set their own schedules and can close for more, including the provider's own vacation. Because these are usually paid days under your contract, the closure does not lower your bill, which makes the holiday season a coverage problem more than a billing one.
Usually yes. Most center contracts charge a flat monthly or weekly tuition that already builds in scheduled holiday closures, so a closed day does not reduce your bill. Check your enrollment agreement for the closed-day list and the refund policy before you assume otherwise.
This is the part that catches families off guard: you pay your normal tuition and any backup care you arrange on top of it. Full-day backup care commonly runs about $40 to $120 a day, per the US Department of Labor (DOL) National Database of Childcare Prices, and a private sitter can cost more per hour.
| Backup option | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Family or friend | Free to low | Short closures with trusted help nearby |
| Babysitter or part-time nanny | Hourly, often $18–30/hr | One-off days, flexible hours |
| Nanny share | Split hourly rate | Two closed-daycare families coordinating |
| Drop-in center care | About $40–120/day, per DOL | Full days when a center stays open |
| Parent PTO, split days | Uses paid leave | Two-parent households who can trade days |
Common options are a trusted family member or friend, a babysitter or part-time nanny, a nanny share with another closed-daycare family, drop-in care at a center that stays open, or taking paid time off and splitting days with a partner. Some employers offer subsidized backup care as a benefit worth checking, per your benefits summary.
For a deeper menu of options and how to vet them quickly, see our backup childcare options guide and the companion piece on emergency childcare when daycare closes.
Sometimes. Care that lets you work and is provided by an eligible caregiver can count toward the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit or a Dependent Care FSA, per IRS Publication 503. Care arranged primarily so you can take a vacation day, rather than to enable work, generally does not qualify.
Keep receipts and the caregiver's name and tax ID, and remember the same dollars cannot run through both the FSA and the credit. If you receive a state subsidy through the Child Care and Development Fund, ask your caseworker whether approved backup care is covered, per Administration for Children and Families (ACF) rules.
One honest note. Holiday closures are one of the least fair parts of daycare economics. You pay for days your child cannot attend, then pay again for backup care, and the tax code only sometimes helps. There is no trick that erases that double cost. The honest move is to expect it: know your closed days a year ahead, budget for a few backup days, and protect your own paid leave for the weeks you truly cannot cover.
How many closed days? Usually 8 to 12 paid holidays at centers; your agreement lists them.
Do I still pay? Yes, most contracts charge flat tuition that includes scheduled closures.
What backup works? Family, a sitter, a nanny share, drop-in care, or split PTO; full-day care runs about $40 to $120, per DOL ranges.
Any tax help? Work-enabling care may count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit, per IRS Publication 503.
The full daycare logistics guide, from billing and closures to backup care.
Read the pillar → BlogEvery backup option compared, and how to vet a sitter fast.
Read the article → BlogHow closed-day policies work and what to confirm in your contract.
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